Braun signed through 2020

The Brewers just made the stunning announcement that they had signed outfielder Ryan Braun to a five-year contract extension through 2020, the longest commitment to a player in franchise history. The deal includes a mutual option for 2021.

According to a baseball source, the extension pays $105 million from 2016-2020 and includes $10 million signing bonus. Braun will earn $19 million in 2016-18, $18 million in 2019 and $16 million in 2010, and the 2021 mutual option is worth up to $20 million with a $4 million buyout. It includes a no-trade provision, and Braun agreed to defer some salary “to help keep the team competitive.”

The $21 million average annual value of the extension is second-highest ever for an outfielder, after Manny Ramirez’s two-year deal with Dodgers.

Braun is now guaranteed $145.5 million from this season through the end of the extension, which makes Braun and Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki the only Major League players signed through 2020. In fact, the only other players signed through 2018 are Joe Mauer of the Twins and Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox.

“One of the cornerstone pledges we made when purchasing the Brewers was to build a perennially competitive team, and Ryan Braun has already shown that he is a very rare and special talent,” Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio said in a statement. “This is an historic occasion for our franchise and for our fans, knowing that we were able to make Ryan’s desire to wear a Brewers uniform for the long term a reality.”

Elected to start in each of the last three All-Star Games, Braun is one of just five players in Major League Baseball history to hit 125 homers and post a .300 batting average over the first four seasons of his career (the others are Joe DiMaggio, Chuck Klein, Albert Pujols and Ted Williams). He also currently holds the franchise’s mark for highest career batting average at a .308 mark and entered the 2011 season with 128 homers, eighth-most in Major League history by any player in their first four years.

“Ryan is an elite player and he has already reached extraordinary statistical milestones that are comparable to many of the great players in baseball history,” said Brewers Executive Vice President – General Manager Doug Melvin. “He has shown a tremendous commitment to the Milwaukee market since he arrived, and this is an exciting day for Brewers fans everywhere.”

“I want to thank the entire Milwaukee Brewers organization, specifically Mark Attanasio and his entire ownership group, Doug Melvin and Gord Ash for making this possible,” Braun said. “I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent in Milwaukee and look forward to spending the next 10 years here. I believe in the direction of this organization and its commitment to winning moving forward. I consider it an honor and privilege to be a part of this organization for the next 10 years. Thank you to the Milwaukee Brewers for believing in me and making this happen.”

Since being called up in early 2007, Braun ranks among the top performers in Major League Baseball in many statistical categories. This includes the following:

This season, Braun is off to another strong start and has reached base safely in all 18 games. He currently ranks among the National League leaders in on-base percentage (5th, .471), runs (T6th, 13), home runs (T6th, 4), total bases (8th, 35), slugging percentage (8th, .625), hits (T8th, 20), batting average (10th, .357) and walks (4th, 13).

In 2010, Braun earned his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award as he batted .304 with 25 home runs, 103 RBI and a league-best 60 multi-hit games. He also ranked among the National League leaders in hits (2nd, 188), doubles (T2nd, 45), total bases (5th, 310), runs (6th, 101), extra-base hits (7th, 71), RBI (T7th, 103) and batting average (9th, .304).

This marks the second long-term contract extension for Braun, who is represented by Nez Balelo, Partner with CAA Sports in Los Angeles. The previous deal was announced on May 15, 2008 and goes through the 2015 season. That deal came on the heels of Braun winning the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year Award after he recorded a .324 average with 34 home runs and 97 RBI in just 113 games. His .634 slugging percentage in 2007 led the National League and was the highest by a rookie in Major League history.

Braun was selected by the Brewers in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Braun is also one of four players drafted and signed by the Brewers who have committed to long-term contracts in the past two years (joining Yovani Gallardo, Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks).

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